As a pastor, I find myself in continual contemplation of the words of Jesus in Matthew 24:5–8 when asked about the signs of the end times. “Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.” From these insights, we understand that an increase in false messiahs, a rise in warfare, and increases in famines, plagues, and natural disasters suggest the encroaching end times.
However, we must justice this understanding with discernment. While these events can certainly point towards the onset of the last days, they are not necessarily definitive indicators that the end times have certainly arrived. As the Apostle Paul cautioned us, the last days would be characterized by a marked surge in false teaching. 1 Timothy 4:1 says, “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons”. The times have been described as “perilous times”, and this is due to the increasingly wicked nature of man and the people who actively “oppose the truth” (2 Timothy 3:1–9; also 2 Thessalonians 2:3).
Other notable signs of the end times could be the reconstruction of a Jewish temple in Jerusalem, increased animosity towards Israel, and movements toward a one-world government. Yet, the most conspicuous sign is the nation of Israel itself. In 1948, Israel was acknowledged as a sovereign state for the first time since 605 BC. This fulfilled God’s promise to Abraham that his descendants would have Canaan as “an everlasting possession” (Genesis 17:8), and Ezekiel’s prophesy of a physical and spiritual revival of Israel (Ezekiel 37).
Being mindful of these signs, we can be thoughtful and discerning in our expectation of the end times. But it is essential not to interpret any single event as a definite indication of the imminent arrival of the end times. God has given us ample information for us to be prepared, which is our calling as believers. Our hearts yearn, echoing the words of Revelation 22:20, “Come, Lord Jesus”.
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